Are Farm Animals Dangerous?
Cattle: When we look at farms that have cattle there are two main kinds of cows – beef cattle and dairy cattle. They are not different species but they are bred differently with beef cows being bred more muscular and dairy cows thinner and leaner. With either kind of cattle there are dangers in moving the herd, caring for sick/injured cows and handling the bulls which can be quite aggressive. Researchers from the University of Iowa on behalf of the Iowa Department of Public Health, looked at fatalities caused by cattle in four states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri and found that there were 108 fatalities that “involved cattle as either the primary or secondary cause” between 2003-2008. Of those fatalities 33% occurred when someone was working in an enclosed area and 24% occurred when ranchers were moving or herding the cattle. The research brings to light the importance of farmers and ranchers to follow best practices of cattle handling to insure the safest conditions for all.Poultry: According to the US. Department of Agriculture, the poultry industry in Missouri brought in $1,626,134,000 in sales in 2017, that places them 10th in the nation for poultry production. Similar to cattle, different birds are bred for specific purposes. Missouri has egg-producing chickens, meat-producing chickens and meat-producing turkeys. Breeders continue to adjust their processes to improve the quality of the eggs/meat as well as to increase the hardiness of the birds to avoid disease and infections. Not only to keep the birds from getting diseases but also to eliminate birds from passing diseases on to humans. For example, Psittacosis is a disease caused by a bacteria found in the birds’ droppings, when it dries it can be mixed in the air and farmers can breathe it in. Keeping the living areas cleaned daily can limit the chances of diseases spreading.Hogs: There are 3.1 million pigs on Missouri farms! That is a lot of bacon! Wild pigs, depending on the breed, can get to be 300 to 700lbs. The USDA’s Daily Hog and Pork Summary Report puts the weekly average national market weight of pigs to be 284.6lbs. Handling these large animals can lead to injuries so farmers need to be well trained in proper care to avoid accidents.
Are there any Bears in Missouri?
Bears seem like they would be more dangerous than pigs and if you accidently came across a bear, vs a pig in the woods your heart would probably start racing faster with the bear. There are not any grizzly bears in Missouri but there are black bears. There was a time in history when black bears were extinct in the state. Before the 1800’s there was a healthy population of bears but with the loss of habitat during the logging years and the number of bears killed for food and bear oil, the black bears were considered extinct in Missouri in the late 1800’s. The same thing happened to the bears in Arkansas but as a state they decided to reintroduce black bears by relocating a group of 248 bears into the Ozarks. It worked, and now they have a healthy population of black bears, enough so that many have made their way into Missouri with there now being 500+ black bears in the state. So, it is not likely that you will stumble onto a black bear, and if you did it is rare that you would be attacked. In the last 25 years there have only been 20 fatalities from black bear attacks, less than two per year in all of the United States.
Are there any Poisonous or Venomous Animals in Missouri?
There are five species of venomous snakes, two venomous spiders and a variety of bees, wasps and hornets. The five snakes to be cautious of are the timber rattlesnake (not many left in the state), massasauga rattlesnake (endangered in Missouri), western pygmy rattlesnake (found in the southern part of the state), western cottonmouth (found in southeastern part) and the Osage copperhead (which can be found throughout the state). The two venomous spiders that are native to Missouri are the black widow and the brown recluse. Spiders typically avoid humans but if you do get bit it best to seek medical attention. According to the CDC there are an average of 62 deaths a year in the US due to hornet, wasp and bee stings, so these actually are some of the deadliest animals in Missouri.
Are there Really 150lbs Turtles that can Bite your Finger Off?
The Alligator snapping turtle is a giant turtle that can be found in Missouri, but unless you spend a lot of time at the bottom of lakes, it is unlikely you will come across one. They spend most of their time underwater, so much so that algae grows on their shell. This provides camouflage for them so they can blend in with the plant life at the bottom of lakes. Alligator snapping turtles can grow to be between 155-175lbs and are the largest freshwater species of turtles. They have a distinctive spiky shell and a large beak-like mouth that is powerful enough to bite through bones with a bit force of 1,000lbs. So if you did happen to see one of these turtles it is best to keep your distance!
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